Hurricanes push Maple Leafs to brink

Irbe stopped 31 shots while Sami Kapanen and Ron Francis each had a goal and assist, lifting the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-0 win over Toronto in Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.

Rookie Jaroslav Svoboda also scored, giving the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes at Carolina on Saturday.

The Maple Leafs lost their third straight game despite getting an emotional boost when Quinn was released from hospital 21/2 hours before game time. Quinn, who returned to the hospital following the game, has been monitored the past two days for an irregular heartbeat.

He received a standing ovation before the game, and the Maple Leafs responded with a solid start, in which they outshot Carolina 9-1 through the first 14 minutes.

Irbe, who recorded his first career playoff shutout, was remarkable. His best series of saves came four minutes into the third period with Carolina clinging to a 1-0 lead.

Irbe got his right pad out to stop Tomas Kaberle's point shot, which was deflected in front. Irbe then dived to his right to stop Jonas Hoglund's attempt to fire in the rebound.

After being outplayed, and killing off three straight penalties in the first period, the Hurricanes responded with a barrage of shots on Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph during a power play with 2:10 remaining in the opening frame.

Kapanen set in motion Svoboda's goal for a 1-0 lead when he chased down a loose puck deep in the Toronto end, and sent the puck back to Sean Hill at the point. Hill's shot was blocked by Joseph, who couldn't handle the rebound. Svoboda got two whacks at the puck, stuffing the second one in through Joseph's legs.

Kapanen made it 2-0 with 8:19 remaining, ending a 16-game playoff goal drought, dating to April 20, 2001. Francis pounced on Anders Eriksson's weak pass behind the Toronto net, and fed the puck in front where Kapanen lifted a shot over Joseph's left shoulder.

It was the first time either team had a two-goal edge in the series after the first three games ended with 2-1 scores. Carolina won the two previous games in overtime.

Despite his illness, the 59-year-old Quinn showed that he had not lost his edge.

He was spotted chewing out Toronto center Alyn McCauley on the bench at the end of the first period.

"We thought it was safe for him to come and do this," said Dr. Jean Rouleau, the director of cardiology at Toronto's Mt. Sinai Hospital. "I would not do this if there was any kind of risk. If anything happens to him tonight, it would be very tough on my reputation."

Before this season, the Hurricanes hadn't won a best-of-seven series in their 22-year franchise history. Yet they've proven to be determined, having now won six of their last seven games.

Carolina killed off seven power-play opportunities and was out-shot 22-6 over the final two periods, and 31-14 overall.

The Maple Leafs lost their composure in the final minutes as Gary Roberts, who had received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty earlier in the game, was handed a 10-minute misconduct after arguing a roughing penalty called against him.

With 2:25 left, Francis scored on the ensuing two-man advantage, as Kaberle was also off for roughing.

Carolina defenseman Bret Hedican left the game with 4:02 remaining after Roberts' pass deflected off his stick and the puck bounced up and hit him in the face.

Notes: Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is confident that Francis, the team's captain, will remain in Carolina next season. "We've had enough conversations that I feel pretty confident," Rutherford said of keeping Francis, who holds the option on the final year of his contract. ... Leafs RW Alexander Mogilny (upper body injury), who leads the team with eight playoff goals, played despite not finishing Game 3. ... Hurricanes D David Tanabe (broken wrist), who hasn't played since the playoff opener, has resumed practicing. ... Joseph played his 116th postseason game, passing New Jersey's Martin Brodeur for fifth among active goalies. Colorado's Patrick Roy leads the list with 236 games.